First-term Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan revealed Monday that he'd recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
"A few days ago I was diagnosed with cancer," Gov. Hogan said during a 20-minute press conference. "The truth is I've learned over the last few days that this cancer is very advanced and very aggressive."
According to the Mayo Clinic, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) emerges in the lymphatic system, which is responsible for helping the body fight off disease. The tumors themselves come from white blood cells called lymphocytes. Gov. Hogan will undergo at least 18 weeks of chemotherapy treatment but thus far has no plans to take time away from his job.
He has, however, cancelled a number of events in the wake of his diagnosis. Gov. Hogan also indicated that a more prominent role is now expected from Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford.
"The odds I have of beating this are much, much better than the odds I had of beating Anthony Brown," Gov. Hogan jokingly suggested.
As CNN noted, Gov. Hogan "surprised political observers" by beating Brown last November in his bid to become governor.
Though optimistic about his chances of recovery, Gov. Hogan also offered a sobering assessment of the battle ahead.
"They also tell me it's gonna beat the hell out of me," he said. "Honestly, they say, 'You're gonna go through hell and back again, but you're gonna love it when you get back."
According to the American Cancer Society, NHL is one of the most frequently diagnosed kinds of cancers in the US, accounting for around 4 percent of all cancer cases. An estimated 71,850 people will be diagnosed with NHL in the US this year, and around 19,790 will die from the disease.
